I was just wondering if anyone had any theories on the film's title? It seems to have nothing to do with the film at all!
If its only "Inju" (Japanese) I can understand your comment but when you know its subtitle "la bête dans l'ombre / the beast in the shadow" is a translation of that, isn't it obvious that it refers to Shundei Oe, a threatening person (like a beast) whose identity is unknown, and you can't tell where "he" lurks (like in the shadows)?
There is no mention of the name Inju at any point during the film.
I only saw the Japanese version of this movie, and have no idea how much of the Japanese language is subtitled in the French/English versions.
But technically, the word is in the movie.
The book given to Alex Fayard in the prison at the end, has the title "Inju" clearly seen on the cover.
It was also seen on the manuscript Fayard found in Ryuji Mogi's desk. (When Fayard picked up the manuscript, the Japanese version even had the subtitles "Inju by Shundei Oe" to make it clear.)
BTW, while "la bête dans l'ombre / the beast in the shadow" is not a bad title, strictly speaking it's a wrong translation.
In an essay Rampo wrote "Inju" means "gloomy beast" which, of course refers to Shundei.
FYI, the original story (quite different from the movie) is written as a memoirs of a Japanese mystery writer, and at one point he calls Shundei "Inju".
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